Apparatus for developing wells



71! lll/l v W. A. RICE APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING WELLS Filed Aug. .15., 1939 7l lill/fl- July 29, 1941.

Patented July 29, 1941 TED .STATES lPMuur oFFicl-z 2,250,775 APPARATUS FOR VELGPING WELLS A. Bice, Riverside, Calif.. Application August '15, 1939, Serial No. 290,187 4 Claims. fCl.- 16640) This invention relates 'to apparatus for developing wells.

Various `amlaraiiuses have been employed in the past forth-e purpose of cleaning a well of sand.

clay, and the like, but these apparatuses have all .generally relied on the principle ofbailng or removing any sand .or.clay entering the well. In lthe apparatus .of the present invention, .a dii ferent and novel principle of operations is `ernto first settle into the lwell and subsequently may he balled or otherwise removed from the well. The operations are continued forcibly drawing into the weil casing .sand or clay through the perforatlons of the casing and removing the .Same until all of the loose sand and clay in the formation surrounding the casing have "been drawn into the well casing. By so conditioning the well, it is found possible for the well lthereafter .to be placed on production and produce a clean fluid without subsequent sanding of the welll., at least for very Asubstantial and unusual periods of time. It is also found that Wells, the flow of which has greatly deteriorated from use, may be conditioned by the apparatus of the present invention through deliberately drawing 'into the Well casing "under forced conditions all of the loose sand and clay surrounding the casing and then removing the same from the well casing. The well will thereafter flew freely and produce a clean fluid frequently at rates exceeding the lproduction of the well when it was rst completed.

In accordance with the process and apparatus of the present invention, the cleaning of the well is effected by means and operations performed so as to both force the fluid into the Well casing through the perforations from the forniation and also simultaneously to force the fluid out of the well casing to the formation through other perforations in the well casing so as to cause the fluid in the well casing to in effect circulate from within the well casing out in the formation and into the well casing. I thereby establish circulation .of fluid Asuch as will operate to draw into the well casing anyof the loose sand and clay `in the formation adjacent .the perfora- :the invention;

l5 Fig-ure i is an elevation formations of ciay and sand, Simultaneously, the clay yor sand drawn into the well casing is passed from the apparatus to the 'bottom of the Well, g so that the san-d or clay will nvt hamper the operation of the apparatus.

The present invention, together lwith various objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from -a description .of a preferred form of an apparatus for cleaning wells emand for this purpose I have hereinafter illustrated, in connection with the accompanying drawing, such. a preferred form of an apparatus embodying the invention.V

In the drawing;

showing the apparatus installed in the kWell hole indicated in a vertical section.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the apparatus.

.go Figure 3 is a 4section Aon the line 3-3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a similar section as in Figure 3 showing a modified form of disc.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig ure 2,

-30 hole. The perforatiofns of such casing may, in

the case of water Wells in certain cases, extend to the surface of the well, 0r .only portions o f the .casing may be perforated. Within the Well casing is indicated a developing apparatus, which v3i; includes the body member 3 which is indicated as connected at *its upper end by a coupling 4 to -a means 5?, -such as drill cable or the like,

which extends to the surface of the Well and may ybe used for vperforming the desired recip- 'gn rocations of the tool within the well casing, as

later described. Ilie *bodyS of the tool is indicated as reduced atl -6 to provide a rod-like member, the lower end of which is indicated as threaded at 1. upper disc 8 having a centra] bore to ft over the rod-.shaped section 6 of the body liS pp SiliQned fitting .again-st the shoule' l der 9 between the body part A3 and rod section s cf the body. The disc a is a metal dise and in the operations .of the apparatus is intended 60 to serve the two-fold function v,of operating as a stop for a piston disc l0 andas a sort of valve head for inhibiting `the flow .of fluid `,through certain openings IH in the ,piston member l0.

In .case of tools operated in water wells, I

tions. and also to clean the periorations and 55 generally i'lnd 'it unnecessary to employ springs inconnection with the disc 8. In case of tools intended for oil wells the disc 8 is preferably provided with a recess I2 receiving the end of a coil spring I3, which will serve to hold a piston member I away from the disc 8 in lowering and raising the tool. This spring, however, is designed to compress readily under the quick up and down actions in the operation of the device, so as to allow the piston member to seat against the disc 8. The recess I2 of the discv communicates with certain "somewhat-circular shaped' recesses |22, which serve to facilitate dropping of sand or gravel from the disc 8. it the lower end of the rod-shaped portion S, thereis provided a second disc I similar: to tlietupperl kj disc 8, and it is likewise preferably provided witljn a lcoil spring I5 and with a recess-13a# receivingthe coiled spring.

upper disc 8 and lower disc I4 are spaced a suitable idistanceapart, lpreferably.V in the neighborl hood of two Ycirthree'feet,Y and aire'so spaced by al vsleeveJ I6 surrounding the rod @Zandy abutting at its opposite end the discsl 8 and I4'. The vdiscs 8 and vIll are preferably made to havel anbuter diameter such as to z't''lpr'oach within a A'short distance,.'for example 11/2 inches, of 'the inner face of the well casing 2, c The piston'member Iii, .which is indicated as mounted between thev discs 8 and I,`has an inner bore I'i to t closely to the sleeve I5 and has an outer diameter ysuch. as. to very closely approach and perhaps be pressed againstL the inner face of the casing 2. This member I acts in the natureof a piston in the apparatus and also as a valve for the control and passage of sand in a manner later to be describedf llior the purpose of passing sand, it is provided with openings vII which are sol disposedthatsaid openings will vbe" covered whenever the member I3 is brought against either of, the discsl orf-M The member Ii) is preferably made of some-'suitable packing material of proper design to render the same somewhatstiii or rigid-for example, heavy belting material of suitable thickness. The process of cleaning and developingfwells embodying the present inventionand the operation of the apparatus are as follows; A

The apparatus is lowered intothe well hole and the well casing' preferably .cleaned commencing withthe Atop portionof thevuperforations of the well casing; onlyaportion of the well casing being cleaned at one time. Thus! in Ithe preferred operation of the apparatus the device is lowered to `about the level of the uppermost perforations'of the `casing 2." It is then reciprocated through asuitable stroke, such as a few feet, and insuch vrecip'rocating lactions performs as follower.. I ,v At the commencement vofthe downfstroke the piston member IU may be considered as resting There are @1 Pfesrablr PrO-i, x vided passages I5a through the disc Il) for any sand ycollecting in the spring chamber "it-3e. -LThe against kthe-.lower stop disc ILLand'at the lcommencement of thestroke the remainderof 'the apparatus is lowered while, thev piston member. :I0 moves but slightly until it contacts the upperustop disc 8. This motion causes someforce to be im'- parted to the iiuid Within'the well casing to force the uid below thepiston I0 .out through the perl, forations of the casing'into the formation and to draw the` fluid frofrnthe formation'through the perforations into the well casing above'l theypiston/ IU, thereby starting the.circul ati`onl of fluid'out of the Well casing, into the formationandback into the well casing.

','When'jthe .upper discy 8 strikes the piston able shock imparted to the fluid so circulating, due to the sudden acceleration of the movement of the member I0 and the closing of its openings I I by the disc 8. Such shock is effective in breaking loose sand and clay which is clogging and closing the perforations of the well casing, and also .effective in breaking away from the formation sand and clay which in later use of the Well casing might become drawn into the well casing.

The further movement-fof the apparatus during lthe down strokeis then carried out" with a positive forced circulation of fluid below the piston member Il), out of the perforations of the casing ,2,through theformation and back into the well casing through the perforations above the member- TIil.-\.'f'ter a suitable down-stroke of the apparatus itlis given an upward stroke, reversing the'mctions.' 4During the first part of the upstroke and while the piston member I0 is passing between the two stop discs 8 and I4, it will be s een thatany sand Vor clay which has'beefr brought intopthezwell casing above the disc is' nowifree and ,actually ,forced down throughfthe piston .III at'itsppning's' Il; Where 'it cangsttle to theibot'- ytor'njof the well @casing When 'the member I0 strike'sth'e' owerv disc' `I4on the 11p-stroke there isfagain` ajshoclorablow imparted to theA 'circu- 'lati'ngjfluid to' facilitate Safpositi've movement 0f any sand or clay around the perforations into the well casing below the piston Ill.v u The reciprocations ofY the apparatus are Icon-,- tinuedopposit'ether upper portion of the'forma'- tion for -ajsuit'able period of time to' fully draw intoA the wellcasing any sand'or'fclay 1outside of the casirig"`2 'which lwould'otherwise` enter the well casing'iri subsequent use ofthe wellfciasng andto atl the same;time 'forcibly clean fthe; perforations 'fof any'bridgem'erit's ofI clay and sand.' If it,v appea'rsj` that sufficientl 4sand andfclay has lbeen broughtinto the well, casingfto render. rremoval thereof.' desirable, the' sand 'or clay 'so' drawn into theY wellA ycasing may be 'withdrawn 'by` any usual or preferred `type of lsand ba'iler .or vother [equipmentf Afte'rthis operation 'the`apparatus may be 'again .installedintheiwell casingY and'lowred to' a Asuccfe'ef'dingly'y lower portionoff the 'well hole fdr cleani'rigitnecasng p'erfo'rations opposite' such portion ofthe wellhole andthe formationin ysuch portion Ofth Well' hole-Of sandp and. Clay. In 'other cases, itmay be' unnecessary'toremove Sand brfClfJY-IQI .hlwell basing vun'tl'fd'Inpletlon 0f the" cleaning operations; or' only after successive depths ofA the .wellholev .have been cleaned.. AThe process isl continued reciprocating the apparatus *opposite each v pf'irt'ion of the well hole to be `cleaned untilV ,thef lowermost portion thereof has beengentirelycleanedlgln certain casesjit may be "diesilf'able'to inakzl'a 'further'. check 011`v the cleaning'of the well; inwhich case the 4apparatus is returned; to2 the top of; thee perforatedv portion ofjthewellcasing and 'again'foperat'ed with subsequent` running 4of ytheV sand bailer Y to determine whetherA the secondvoperation o'ith'e apparatus is 'effective for 'drawing'into kthe well 'casingl any fur-l lther's'an'c'i'or clay. l

' prcess herein describedlis effective to. enable v.a

water Well r,to 'Abe 'placed Yimmediately on produc-` tion. 4Itdwillrinsure'thatthe water withdrawn from: the" welloh'ole .is clean even in. its initial "ope erations' Moreover, i the ,de,te'rieration` of, 4the' pumps installed in the well for pumping sand and clay is thereby completely avoided. Furthermore, the capacity of the well is materially increased over what its capacity would otherwise be. Likewise, old water wells the flow of which has been in the course of time materially reduced or in some cases practically stopped can be developed by the process and apparatus of the present invention to the point where the well may produce with good capacity clean water frequently at rates exceeding the original production of the well. Likewise, in connection with oil wells which have become sanded and the flow of which has been retarded for these reasons the well may be cleaned of sand and production again established with marked advantages.

It is particularly noted that the operation of the apparatus of the present invention is effective not only in cleaning the perforations of the casing and cleaning sand out of the well casing, but is also effective in working back into the formation surrounding the well casing so as to eiectively draw from a considerable area outside of the well casing all of the loose sand and clay which later operation of the well might cause to enter the casing. In this way, the development of the well insures a long free flow of fluid into the well casing.

While the particular apparatus herein described is well adapted to carry out the objects of the invention, it is to be understood that the apparatus of the present invention is capable of considerable modication, and the invention includes all such modifications and changes as come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A well developing apparatus, comprising a body member mounting spaced stops, a piston member slidably mounted by said body member for `movement between said stops, said piston member having by-pass openings adapted to be closed by contact between said piston member and said stops. A

2. A well developing apparatus, comprising a body member having a rod-like portion, stop discs mounted at opposite ends of said rod-like portion, a piston member slidably mounted by said rod-like portion and adapted to move into contact with said stop discs, said piston member having openings therethrough for passage of sand or clay which openings are arranged to be closed upon engagement with either stop disc.

3. A well developing apparatus, comprising a4 body member having a rod-like portion, stop discs mounted at opposite ends of said rod-like portion, a piston member slidably mounted by said rod-like portion and adapted to move into contact with said stop discs, said piston member having openings therethrough for passage of sand or clay to be closed by engagement of said piston member with either stop disc, such stop discs having spring means for cushioning the impact between the piston member and said stop discs.

4. An apparatus for developing well holes, comprising means for mounting a piston member within the well hole, said means including means for maintaining stop members spaced apart to be brought into alternative striking action with said piston member, said piston member being movably mounted on said means between said stops and having sand and clay by-pass ports arranged to be closed on contact between said piston member and either of said stops. y

WILLIAM A. RICE. 

